Productivity Strategies from the Experts: Kate Northrup

We are kicking things off this morning with part one of Productivity Strategies from the Experts. In this series of posts, we will share the top takeaways from our very favorite productivity books. Today we’ll be highlighting the insightful Kate Northrup, and the best strategies from her 2019 book, Do Less. 

Let’s get right to it! Kate is a mother of two, a business owner and entrepreneur who advocates the counter-intuitive strategy of simply doing less to achieve greater financial return, overall energy, and life satisfaction. If you are a working mama (or really any ambitious woman!), these shifts in your approach to productivity will feel like a breath of fresh air. 


Follow the signals and cycles of your body.

“We don’t ask a flower to bloom all year long. We understand that she has seasons”

In Do Less, Northrup suggests leaning into the cyclical nature of femininity and planning in sync with the four phases of the menstrual cycle. Track your cycle (or, alternatively, the phases of the moon), and know when you are entering each new phase. As much as your schedule allows, plan as follows:

  • The follicular phase is a time for planning, preparation, and project initiation.

  • The ovulation phase is a time for marketing, getting yourself out there and making social connections.

  • The luteal phase is a time for follow-through and work to carry out your plans.

  • The menstrual phase is a time for rest, internalization, and reflection.

Usually, when following society’s standards in the workplace, the whole “rest” part gets left by the wayside and we are expected to be firing on all cylinders every day. By honoring your body’s needs and seasons, you will have your best self to give. While it’s not realistic for everyone to align their schedule 100% with these four phases, a great place to start is shooting for placing 10% - 20% of your activities in the appropriate “phase” when planning out your tasks for the month.


Receive help and simplify.

“The less your life is bulging at the seams with complexity, the more space you have to show up for what truly matters”

In these mind-blowing sections on simplification and help, Northrup really debunks the idea that women have to do it all. In all reality, doing it all will leave us depleted, agitated and unfulfilled. To live life to its fullest and experience the calm and serenity of being present, we need to figure out how to eliminate the unnecessary and recruit help. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

  • Have less personal belongings - keep only what you LOVE

  • Own fewer items that need regular maintenance or attention

  • Keep kids toys, clothing, and activities to a minimum

  • Choose grocery delivery or meal kits to simplify food preparation

  • Hire out housework and errands

  • Arrange quality child care - as much as you need!

  • Leave space in your schedule between activities

  • Allow yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go

  • Delegate work tasks that do not absolutely need to be done by you

  • Adopt strict limitations on phone notifications and technology

  • Hold a weekly planning meeting with stakeholders on the home front and/or work front

Asking for help is an essential part of life and should be a regular part of your weekly routine, not a last-minute effort in desperation. Let go of the guilt, and realize that receiving help and simplifying allows you to be there for your people in the ways that matter most. Fully you, fully present. 


Manage your energy, not your time.

“I shifted my expectations and focus from checking off my to-do list to having enough energy for the things that really matter to me”

Traditional productivity strategies involve cramming as much as possible into your waking hours by booking out each minute of the day. Alternatively, Kate offers strategies to manage energy, inviting readers to identify our top energy leaks and our top energizers. Here are a few guiding questions as you move through this process:

  • How can I plug up my top 1 or 2 energy leaks?

  • What boundaries need to be created and maintained?

  • What problems need to be worked through in an important relationship?

  • How can I make sure my top energizers are prioritized each day?

By plugging up energy leaks and making space for our energizers on a daily basis, we can actually create more time for the things that drive our businesses forward, help our families thrive, and fulfill us on an individual basis. 


The to-do list is sacred space.

“I see my to-do list as a sacred space. Time is precious. My energy is precious. Only the most worthy of tasks make it on there. I use my to-do list as a way to honor and love myself.”

In efforts to ditch the feelings of absolute defeat when we look at a massive to-do list that we have barely made a dent in at the end of the day (relatable anyone?!), Northrup recommends that women create a weekly to-do list that has been filtered with the following questions:

  • Does this need to be done?

  • Does this need to be done by me?

  • Does this need to be done right now? 

What you leave off your to-do list is just as important as what makes it on there. This concept is absolutely freeing to internalize!

We hope you’ve loved this quick take on Do Less by Kate Northrup, and are excited to see how these mindsets change the way you plan this week.  Be on the lookout for our next Productivity Strategies from the Experts post coming early March! We will be reviewing the ever-popular Atomic Habits by James Clear. We are so excited for this one! Happy Tuesday, Friends!

Blog Manager